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The abolitionist John Brown still roams the West Virginia panhandle--and beyond. In Lexington, a statue sheds real tears, mourning Virginians killed in battle. Decades of abuse at a sanatorium unleashed malevolent entities in Staunton. Spirits of Native Americans, Civil War soldiers and children frequent natural springs in Frederick County and caves near Strasburg. Ghosts stay free of charge at the nation's oldest inn in Middletown, and at the Natural Bridge Hotel, phantom children play in the halls. Visitors from beyond the grave enjoy live performances at several theaters in the region, while spectral soldiers gather for combat in the battlefields scattered throughout the area. Join Denver Michaels as he delves into folklore, eyewitness accounts and urban legends to bring you the best ghost stories from the Shenandoah Valley.

In Clarke County, the spirits of the past bring history to life. The ghost of a brokenhearted Confederate soldier stares out a window waiting in vain for the return of the love of his life. Victims of a plane crash still linger at the scene of the tragedy forty-five years later. Union troops are still crossing the Shenandoah River through a hail of musket balls and cannon fire. From the legendary phantom coach of Carter Hall to lesser-known haunts along the county's back roads, a rock-throwing poltergeist, a smoky figure in a bedroom and strange creatures lurking in the woods, Michael Hess brings you the very best in Clarke County ghost lore.

A fascinating collection of thirty-five compelling stories about events that shaped Old Dominion, It Happened in Virginia describes everything from the invention of America's original instrument, the banjo, to how Stonewall Jackson acquired his nickname.

At age 17 Belle Boyd shot and killed a Union soldier; at age 19 she was in a Union prison, a Confederate spy who got caught. A spunky West Virginia girl full of charm and with a zest for adventure, Belle worked among the highest-ranking officers and lowliest foot soldiers of the Civil War with an indomitable spirit that defied Union authority.As a spy Belle Boyd was amateurish, yet she managed to confuse Union officers and convey useful information to Southern military leaders. Southern newspapers dubbed her Joan of Arc of the South, Siren of the Shenandoah, and Cleopatra of the Secession, while Northern reporters referred to her as camp follower, the most overrated spy, and insincere courtesan. French newspapers, meanwhile, reported the exploits of La Belle Rebelle.Like many historical figures, Belle Boyd may appear in retrospect larger than life, but in this delightful biography her life is portrayed within the limits of its actual dimensions.